Opponents of President Donald Trump's plan to open most of the nation's coastline to oil and natural gas drilling have held boisterous rallies before public meetings held by the federal government on the topic.More >>

Opponents of President Donald Trump's plan to open most of the nation's coastline to oil and natural gas drilling have held boisterous rallies before public meetings held by the federal government on the topic.More >>

President Donald Trump visited a Florida community reeling from a deadly school shooting, meeting privately with victims and cheering the heroics of first responders, but extending few public words of consolation...More >>

President Donald Trump visited a Florida community reeling from a deadly school shooting, meeting privately with victims and cheering the heroics of first responders, but extending few public words of consolation to those in deep mourning.More >>

A South Pacific cruise was interrupted by brawls apparently caused by a 23-member family who threw punches at other passengers, some of whom locked themselves in cabins to escape days of violence.More >>

A South Pacific cruise was interrupted by brawls apparently caused by a 23-member family who threw punches at other passengers, some of whom locked themselves in cabins to escape days of violence.More >>

Pope Francis has revived his lapsed sex abuse advisory commission and named new members, after coming under fire for his overall handling of the scandal and his support for a Chilean bishop accused by victims of...More >>

Pope Francis has revived his lapsed sex abuse advisory commission and named new members, after coming under fire for his overall handling of the scandal and his support for a Chilean bishop accused by victims of witnessing and ignoring their abuse.More >>

South Korean President Moon Jae-in says he hopes his efforts to engage rival North Korea at the Olympics will lead to better ties between Washington and Pyongyang and also help to set up talks on ridding the North...More >>

South Korean President Moon Jae-in says he hopes his efforts to engage rival North Korea at the Olympics will lead to better ties between Washington and Pyongyang and also help to set up talks on ridding the North of its nuclear bombs.More >>

ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ (Radio Free Europe/CNN) - The battle between Iraqi's military and militants continued on Wednesday at the country's main oil refinery, which was just one of many areas in conflict. Meanwhile, Washington debates whether or not to get involved.

President Barack Obama is taking up the issue with congressional leaders as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says Iraq has asked the U.S. for airpower.

ISIS militants in Iraq are moving even closer to the capital. They control areas in north and central Iraq. "Iraqis alone, they are in a very difficult position now," said Saleh al-Mutlak, Iraq's deputy prime minister.

Washington is staking out positions too.

"We have a request from the Iraqi government for airpower," said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dempsey said it's in the U.S. national security interest to counter the ISIS terrorists where they can be found.

But some question how and why?

President Obama met with congressional leaders about Iraq. He has ruled out troops on the ground.

But airstrikes remain an option.

Military planners have a draft list of potential ISIS targets.

Republicans say it's not enough.

"The president has been watching what we've been watching for over a year as a situation in Iraq continued to be undermined yet nothing - nothing, has been done to try and reverse it," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-OH.

"Isn't it too late now to be sitting down and talking to members of Congress and basically saying let's look at the options?" U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-IN, asked Dempsey.

"Senator, it is only late if you suggest that we could have stopped it in some way," Dempsey responded.